According to the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet), 23 Nigerian cities recorded daytime temperatures of 40 degrees Celsius or higher in 2025.
Nguru in Yobe recorded 100 days of such temperatures, with the mercury peaking at 44.6 degrees Celsius.
The figures highlight the challenge of extreme heat in a country where millions of people depend on outdoor work, live in poorly ventilated homes or lack reliable electricity to cool their surroundings.
Across Kano, Gombe and Lagos, residents say high temperatures are disrupting sleep, reducing productivity and increasing household expenses.
Traders also spend more on preserving perishable goods, while families struggle to protect children from heat-related illnesses.
Beyond the immediate discomfort, experts warn that extreme heat could increase public health risks, reduce agricultural productivity and worsen food insecurity, especially among households with limited resources to cope with rising temperatures.
Globally, the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) reported that 2025 was one of the three warmest years on record, with global average surface temperatures reaching about 1.44 degrees Celsius above the 1850–1900 average.
The 11 years from 2015 to 2025 were also the warmest on record, underscoring the persistence of global warming.
In Nigeria, NiMet’s 2025 State of the Climate report found that nine of the 10 years from 2016 to 2025 ranked among the 12 warmest years recorded in the country.
NiMet’s 2026 Seasonal Climate Prediction also forecast above-normal daytime and nighttime temperatures across most parts of Nigeria during several months of the year, highlighting the need for improved preparedness.
For residents already contending with inadequate housing and unreliable electricity, however, extreme heat is more than a climate statistic.
It is a daily struggle to remain comfortable, healthy and productive.
In Kano, residents say the heat has disrupted household activities and livelihoods, forcing some to repeatedly pour water over their bodies in search of relief.
Mrs Rekiya Aliyu, a resident, said the heat arrived earlier than expected and was more intense than anything she had experienced since moving to the city.
“This year, there was no extreme cold weather at all, even during the cold season. After Ramadan, the kind of heat we’ve experienced in Kano is like nothing I’ve seen since I moved here,” she said.
Aliyu said she repeatedly poured water over her body to cool down, even as the water in her bathroom became hot.
“I keep pouring water on my body from morning till night to cool down. Even the water in the bathroom gets hot on its own,” she said.
For Mrs Salma Usman, a housewife, the heat has also affected her children, who have developed heat rashes and frequently cry because of the uncomfortable conditions.
“The heat is seriously affecting our activities. In the afternoon, we are tired, sweating, and weak. My children have heat rashes and keep crying because of the heat,” she said.
The effects are also evident among workers whose jobs require physical exertion.
A bricklayer, Mr Yusufa Abdullahi, said sleepless nights left him exhausted and dizzy at work.
“The weather is very serious. We can’t even sleep at night. If you don’t sleep, you can’t work well. Even in the morning, I feel tired and dizzy at work,” he said.
Poor electricity supply compounds these difficulties by limiting access to fans and other cooling devices, while also increasing the cost of preserving food and drinks.
For instance, schoolteacher Ms Ele Abalaka said electricity sometimes lasted only a few minutes, forcing households to consider generators or solar power to cope with the heat.
“We hardly have electricity throughout the week. Sometimes, power comes for only a few minutes and goes off again. If you want comfort at night or to preserve food, you must use a generator or solar power,” she said.
Abalaka added that fuel for generators could cost more than N7,000 daily, placing additional pressure on households already struggling with living expenses.
The financial burden is also evident among traders dealing in perishable products.
Mrs Matilda Udo, who produces zobo, kunu and tiger-nut beverages, said buying ice blocks to keep her products cold sometimes consumed her profits.
“I spend a lot buying ice blocks to keep my drinks cold. Sometimes, the cost of preservation wipes out my profit,” she said.
Against this background, residents have appealed to government authorities and electricity providers to improve power supply and help households and businesses cope with high temperatures.
In Gombe, the search for relief has driven some families to abandon their bedrooms at night and sleep outdoors.
Temperatures reported in the state ranged from 39 to 41 degrees Celsius during the day, while nighttime readings remained between 28 and 36 degrees Celsius, offering limited relief.
Malam Ibrahim Yusuf, a resident of Nassarawo in Gombe Local Government Area, said his family had been sleeping outdoors for more than a month because poor ventilation made their home unbearably hot.
“We can’t even sleep inside; it is now almost impossible because the room is extremely hot and there is no air blowing into the house,” he said.
Although he acknowledged the security risks, Yusuf said his family had little choice.
“Even the air blowing is hot, but there is nothing we can do but sleep outdoors to at least enjoy the little air outside,” he said.
Similarly, another resident, Suleiman Hamza, said he bought a treated mosquito net to protect his children after they began sleeping outdoors.
“Since we started sleeping outside, my children now sleep better; so, for now, we will keep sleeping outdoors and hope and pray that thieves do not come to our house,” he said.
While sleeping outdoors offers temporary relief, it exposes families to mosquitoes and possible security threats, illustrating the difficult choices facing residents whose homes provide inadequate protection from the heat.
The pressure is also evident in household spending and business operations.
Adewale Jimoh, a resident of the BCG Bogo community, said he spent more than N3,000 daily on cold drinks, water and ice blocks to remain comfortable.
Mr Uchenna Amos, who lives in Yelenguruza, said the combination of high temperatures and poor electricity supply had forced him to close his shop between 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. to rest.
Some residents, however, have found temporary relief beneath trees planted along major roads through the Gombe Goes Green initiative.
Traders said the shade provided a cooler environment than their shops.
Their experiences reflect the value of green spaces in urban areas, where buildings, roads and other paved surfaces can absorb and retain heat.
In Lagos, residents of Oshodi, Ikeja and Agege said high humidity and frequent power outages made their homes uncomfortable, especially at night.
Although wealthier households may rely on air conditioners and generators, low-income families often live in overcrowded rooms with zinc roofs and inadequate ventilation, leaving them with fewer options for coping with extreme temperatures.
Mrs Funmi Adebayo, a food vendor in Agege, said her household’s small fan provided little relief.
“There are nights when you can hardly breathe because of the heat. Even when there is electricity, our small fan does almost nothing because the room is too hot,” she said.
A petty trader, Mrs Esther Nnadi, said she sometimes spread mats outside for her children when indoor conditions became unbearable and electricity was unavailable.
“The children cannot sleep indoors when the heat becomes too much. Sometimes we spread mats outside until midnight,” she said.
These experiences illustrate what environmental experts call “heat poverty” — a situation in which inadequate housing, unreliable electricity and limited access to cooling facilities leave poorer households more exposed to extreme temperatures.
Beyond discomfort and financial hardship, extreme heat can cause dehydration, heat exhaustion and heatstroke, with children, older people and outdoor workers among those at greater risk.
Dr Hauwa Kwanda, a resident doctor at Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, Bauchi, advised Nigerians to drink water regularly, even when they did not feel thirsty.
She recommended lightweight, loose-fitting and light-coloured clothing, as well as umbrellas, caps and sunglasses to reduce exposure to direct sunlight.
“People need to understand that extreme heat can be dangerous and even life-threatening if proper precautions are not taken,” Kwanda said.
She also advised people to eat fruits and vegetables and to seek immediate medical attention when someone develops severe weakness, confusion, persistent vomiting or collapses during extreme heat.
Beyond individual precautions, authorities have begun issuing public health advisories to help residents manage the risks.
In Oyo State, the government issued an environmental health advisory following a severe heat stress alert from NiMet.
The Commissioner for Environment and Natural Resources, Mr Ademola Aderinto, advised residents to limit outdoor activities between noon and 4 p.m., when sunshine is very intense.
He recommended adequate water intake, breathable clothing and proper ventilation in homes and workplaces.
Aderinto also warned against leaving children, older people or pets inside parked vehicles, where temperatures can rise rapidly to dangerous levels.
“Residents are encouraged to watch for early signs of heat stress, including dizziness, fatigue, convulsions and nausea,” he said, urging residents to check on vulnerable neighbours.
However, the implications of extreme heat extend beyond immediate health concerns to agriculture, livestock production and food security.
Akinmayowa Shobo, Programme Manager at HEDA Resource Centre, said NiMet’s 2026 Seasonal Climate Prediction projected warmer-than-normal temperatures across much of Nigeria, especially in northern and north-central states.
According to Shobo, Borno, Yobe, Adamawa, Jigawa and Sokoto could record daytime temperatures between 37 and 43 degrees Celsius during March and April.
He explained that warmer nights could worsen heat stress among people, animals and crops by limiting recovery after prolonged daytime exposure.
For livestock farmers, Shobo said extreme heat could cause hyperthermia, damage vital organs and sometimes result in death, threatening livelihoods and the supply of animal products.
He added that prolonged temperatures above 35 degrees Celsius during maize reproduction could interfere with seed formation and reduce crop yields, potentially worsening food insecurity.
Such losses could have wider economic consequences, as lower crop yields and declining livestock production may affect food availability, farmers’ incomes and market prices.
Shobo also noted that Nigeria’s average temperature had risen by approximately 1.2 degrees Celsius in recent decades, warning that further warming could intensify environmental and public health pressures.
He identified urbanisation, deforestation and unreliable electricity as factors worsening vulnerability, especially in communities where residents have limited resources to adapt.
Given these risks, environmental experts say restoring urban greenery is essential to reducing heat exposure and improving living conditions.
Prof. Sylvester Egwu, Executive Director of Environment Aware and Restoration Network, called for increased reforestation in Lagos, arguing that trees could help address extreme heat, flooding and biodiversity loss.
He said the city had too few trees to provide sufficient shade around homes, schools, hospitals and offices, leaving many areas exposed to intense sunshine.
“Trees absorb carbon dioxide (CO₂) and give off oxygen (O₂),” Egwu said, explaining that tree planting could help improve environmental conditions.
He added that his organisation was partnering with the Lagos Ministry of the Environment to identify suitable planting locations, select appropriate tree species and maintain them during their first year.
“Many people still do not understand the importance of tree planting,” he said, encouraging homeowners, businesses and individuals to participate in reforestation efforts.
Egwu warned that removing trees without replacing them could worsen urban heat and flooding, especially in vulnerable areas where development had reduced green spaces.
Similarly, Mr Philip Jakpor, Executive Director of Renevlyn Development Initiative, attributed worsening heat conditions to environmental neglect, fossil-fuel dependence, gas flaring and the loss of urban greenery.
“The current heatwave in Nigeria is not a mystery. It is the culmination of years of neglect of environmentalists’ advice that the government should address the factors driving the climate crisis,” Jakpor said.
He argued that urban development had transformed cities into concrete jungles, with trees removed faster than they could be replaced.
To address these challenges, experts say Nigeria needs coordinated measures combining immediate public health protection with long-term climate adaptation.
Shobo recommended community education, cooling centres, mobile health clinics and improved access to clean drinking water, alongside stronger emergency response systems and communication networks.
He also advocated the use of artificial intelligence, drones and satellite imaging to strengthen heat monitoring and early warning systems, helping authorities identify emerging risks.
Long-term measures, he said, should include renewable energy, climate-smart agriculture, heat-resistant crop varieties, urban forestry and a national heat action plan supported by stronger environmental regulations.
The experiences of residents in Kano, Gombe and Lagos show that extreme heat is not merely a weather challenge but also a test of Nigeria’s public health preparedness, infrastructure and capacity to protect vulnerable communities.
Stakeholders say individuals can reduce their exposure to extreme heat by taking practical precautions, such as drinking water regularly and limiting outdoor activities during the hottest hours.
However, they emphasise that effective protection also requires reliable electricity, well-ventilated and heat-resilient housing, accessible healthcare, adequate water supplies and investment in urban green spaces.
They therefore urge governments to improve access to these essential services, especially for low-income households and other vulnerable groups that have limited means of coping with extreme temperatures.
(NANFeatures)
Abiemwense Moru is a staff member of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).
